Scottish Executive

Animal Welfare

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many qualified vets there currently are in Scotland and how many have been employed by government agencies in each of the last five years.

Ross Finnie: The number of qualified vets in Scotland is not held centrally by Government. The State Veterinary Service (SVS) is a GB body sponsored by MAFF. A breakdown of vets employed by the SVS in each of the countries year by year is not readily available.

Civil Servants

() (): To ask the how it ensures that its civil servants remain politically neutral.

Henry McLeish: The conduct of civil servants is governed by the Civil Service Code which requires that they "conduct themselves with integrity, impartiality and honesty". The full code is available at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/central/1999/cscode.htm

Cancer

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for radiotherapy treatment for lung cancer in each NHS Trust.

Susan Deacon: Information is not available centrally in the form requested. Radiotherapy facilities are provided from five cancer centres in Scotland, Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness.

  So far as waiting times are concerned, I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-8087.

Community Care

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients currently held in the State Hospital, Carstairs are on the transferral list for local services and how long each has been waiting for transfer.

Susan Deacon: There are at present 18 patients receiving care and treatment within the State Hospital who have waited more than three months since clinical agreement was reached that they no longer needed to be in the hospital.

Community Care

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what system is in place to monitor the release of long-term care patients from the Royal Scottish National Hospital, Larbert.

Susan Deacon: A Project Board, comprising senior managers from Forth Valley Health Board, Forth Valley Primary Care NHS Trust and Falkirk Council, is co-ordinating arrangements to discharge patients from the Royal Scottish National Hospital, Larbert as part of the reprovision and retraction of services currently provided at the hospital. Officials from the Scottish Executive meet with the Project Board quarterly to review progress.

  No patient should be discharged from the hospital unless and until suitable alternative services and accommodation are in place. Under care management, social work professionals locally keep under review the provision of services for people with significant needs living in the community, including former patients of the hospital.

Community Care

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many patients have been released from long-term care at the Royal Scottish National Hospital, Larbert; (b) what the average cost was of care packages to support such patients; (c) what the initial and final destinations were of patients released into the community, and (d) what the number and percentage of patients were whose initial destination was (i) a long stay facility operated by a primary health care trust, (ii) a private sector residential nursing home and (iii) home, in each of the last five years and broken down by health board.

Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally.

Community Care

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it has issued to health boards on the reception of patients released from long-term care at the Royal Scottish National Hospital at Larbert.

Susan Deacon: Existing guidance on assessment and care management of people needing social care applies to former patients of the Royal Scottish National Hospital, Larbert. More generally, The same as you? , our review of learning disability services, aims to change markedly the quality of life of people with learning disabilities living in the community, including those formerly living in hospital.

Community Care

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial resources it has allocated to each health board to provide for care support packages for the long-term care of patients released from the Royal Scottish National Hospital at Larbert.

Susan Deacon: In addition to the normal financial allocations made to the NHS and local authorities, the Executive has allocated £16.735 million to Forth Valley Health Board to help the health board and its planning partners meet non-recurrent costs associated with the reprovision and retraction of services currently provided at the Royal Scottish National Hospital, Larbert.

  The Executive has also earmarked nearly £3 million for the provision of a new facility for those with learning difficulties in Forth Valley who require NHS continuing care.

Education

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues regarding standards of portakabins used as temporary classrooms.

Mr Jack McConnell: We do not issue guidance on this matter. Education authorities are, however, aware of the classroom accommodation needs of pupils and teachers and should take that into account when use is made of installations of this kind.

Education

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money it allocated to Glasgow City Council for reducing class sizes in 2000-01.

Mr Jack McConnell: Within the Excellence Fund class size reduction programme for 2000-01 Glasgow City Council was allocated £2,324,945.

Employment

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new jobs will be created at Anniesland Village Business Park and over what time period.

Ms Wendy Alexander: A developer is carrying out a phased development at Anniesland Village Business Park which aims to create or safeguard up to 480 jobs by mid-2002.

Enterprise

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage diversification in the Scottish electronics industry.

Ms Wendy Alexander: There is a wide range of support available to the electronics sector from the Executive and from the Enterprise Networks to assist it to diversify into new markets. This assistance includes scenario-planning, investigations of possible future outcomes at sectoral and individual company levels and support to enhance competitiveness to enable companies to break into new markets.

Enterprise

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had and with whom relating to the closure of the Drambuie factory, Kirkliston prior to this announcement of closure and what action it intends to take regarding the proposed closure.

Ms Wendy Alexander: There were no recent discussions between the Scottish Executive, its agencies and Drambuie prior to the closure announcement. Drambuie have now undertaken to keep the Scottish Executive aware of any developments relating to the closure of their factory. In the event of a redundancy situation, support will be provided to those affected in accordance with the principles set out in our PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) document but Drambuie have made it clear that it is too early at this stage to say if there will be job losses.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it intends to take in relation to deferring charges and levies under its control due to be paid by those affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Ross Finnie: Ms Alexander announced on 28 March a package of measures totalling £13.5 million, including a rates relief package. Hardship relief from non-domestic rates is currently available to any business demonstrating hardship, at the discretion of the billing local authority. The Scottish Executive finds 75% of relief granted, the cost of the remaining 25% falling to the local authority. The scheme increases the Scottish Executive’s contribution to the cost from 75% to 95% for those businesses most effected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in Scotland regarding the use of section 25A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1966 to provide for the remission of rates on account of hardship in the context of the current outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease; whether it will recommend to local authorities that such remission be granted and, if so, in respect of which business premises.

Angus MacKay: We have received such representations from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

  Hardship relief is included in the Executive’s package of assistance to help stabilise businesses affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. This was announced on 28 March in response to question S1W-14552.

  Guidance will be issued to local authorities.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was represented at a meeting on 5 March 2001 hosted by the English Tourism Council to discuss the implications of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak for the tourist industry across the United Kingdom.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14121 on 26 March 2001.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to recently announced measures to contain foot-and-mouth disease, whether it will ensure that disinfectant barriers and rigorous enforcement of quarantine surround the areas within which sheep are to be slaughtered.

Ross Finnie: Strict controls are in place surrounding the areas within which sheep are to be slaughtered.

  A complete standstill of movement is imposed on infected premises (including the movement of people, animals, vehicles and products), and around the infected premises, 3 km zones have been defined where no livestock movements are allowed.

  In addition, any vehicles or personnel moving on or off slaughter areas will be subject to thorough cleansing and disinfection.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether measures will be taken to ensure that the areas bordering the farms on which sheep are to be slaughtered in terms of the Ministerial Statement on 15 March 2001 are secured against further transmission of the foot-and-mouth virus.

Ross Finnie: Strict controls are being enforced to secure against any further transmission of the foot-and-mouth virus. On farms where slaughter is taking place there is strict control of the movement of people, vehicles and other equipment. Essential equipment or plant which has to be moved off a farm is cleansed and disinfected before being allowed.

  These measures aim to contain any further spread of the virus.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, and on what basis, it is satisfied that it is not necessary to slaughter pigs or cattle as a measure to tackle foot-and-mouth disease.

Ross Finnie: All susceptible species e.g. cattle, sheep and pigs have to be slaughtered on infected premises. As a containment measure and because this disease is much more difficult to identify in sheep, it has been decided to remove all sheep in the infected areas. Cattle and pigs in other parts of infected areas, with the exception of those next to farms which became infected on or after 16 March which may well require to be slaughtered, are being kept under close surveillance.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on what legal basis it intends to implement the foot-and-mouth disease slaughter programme announced by the Minister for Rural Development on 15 March 2001.

Ross Finnie: The legal basis for the pre-emptive cull, which I announced on 15 March, is under section 31, and Schedule 3 to, the Animal Health Act 1981.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether livestock hauliers will be eligible for assistance and support under the emergency relief package announced by the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning on 28 March 2001.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Yes.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for processing animal disposal under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme from (a) application submission to validation or otherwise, (b) validation to slaughter and (c) slaughter to payment of compensation.

Ross Finnie: I am aware that producers who have entered stock into the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme have experienced delays in their claims being processed and consequently their stock have not been slaughtered as quickly as they hoped. Since this became apparent, my officials have been in contact with the Intervention Board Executive Agency, which operates this scheme on behalf of the Agricultural Departments, to try and resolve any difficulties. They have been given assurances that significant slaughter throughput under this scheme will begin in the week commencing 9 April. The Intervention Board advises me that animals are dealt with in order of welfare priority and according to the availability of suitable slaughter and disposal facilities and it is therefore not possible for them to give precise timescales in the form requested. However, the time between issue of the movement licence and collection of the animals must not exceed 24 hours. The Intervention Board will aim to make payments within 21 days of slaughter.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for animal disposal under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme have been processed to slaughter since the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for animal disposal under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme have been (a) submitted and (b) validated since the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Ross Finnie: The Intervention Board Executive Agency operates the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme on behalf of the GB Agriculture Departments. They advise me that over 4,000 applications have been received for nearly 1.8 million animals across all of Great Britain. Applications are continuing to be received. At close on 9 April, Scottish applications accounted for 582 of the total, representing 115,915 sheep, 50,876 pigs and 8,658 cattle. Of these 14,225 sheep, 12,361 pigs and 537 cattle had been passed for slaughter.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many animals have been slaughtered under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme since the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Ross Finnie: I am advised by the Intervention Board Executive Agency, which operates the scheme across Great Britain, that 93,162 animals had been slaughtered under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme by the end of 9 April. This represents 66,154 sheep, 23,345 pigs and 3,663 cattle. Separate figures are not available for Scotland.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which slaughterhouses have been approved by the Intervention Board Agency since the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease as being suitable for animal disposal under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme.

Ross Finnie: As of 9 April, abattoirs at Annan, Kilmarnock, Brechin have agreed a contractual relationship with the Intervention Board Executive Agency to slaughter animals entered into the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme. I am advised that the Intervention Board intends to obtain further slaughter capacity in Scotland for this scheme.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which slaughterhouses approved by the Intervention Board Agency since the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease as being suitable for slaughtering under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme are being utilised.

Ross Finnie: Slaughter under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme began at Brechin abattoir on 6 April and at Annan abattoir on 10 April, with slaughter at Kilmarnock abattoir projected to commence during the course of week ending 13 April.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the genes used in GM crop trials can (a) cross the species barrier and (b) cause harm to animals and humans.

Ross Finnie: Separation distances have been put in place around the trial crop to minimise the possibility of cross-pollination with other related species. Oilseed rape can only cross-pollinate with some closely related species, which are in flower at the same time. The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) is satisfied that if successful pollination occurred between genetically modified herbicide tolerant oilseed rape and these species, the resultant hybrids will not raise any safety concerns for animals, humans or the environment.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether GM crops can cause harm to other forms of plant life.

Ross Finnie: Prior to the release of any GM crop in this country, the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) undertakes a thorough risk assessment to identify whether the GM crop may cause harmful effects to humans or the environment. This includes consideration of the potential for both direct and indirect impacts on local biodiversity and the wider environment. All current GM crops including the GM oilseed rape being grown in Scotland have been tested in laboratory and glasshouse conditions and in small-scale plots before being given approval to be grown as part of the farm-scale evaluation programme.

  ACRE has concluded that GM crops themselves do not pose a threat to human health or the environment and remain confident that the current GM crops on which they have advised pose no greater risk to health or the environment than non-GM varieties.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why it is going ahead with GM crop trials in the Highlands and Aberdeenshire given concerns from the Highland Council and others.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why objections to GM crop trial applications have to be on a clearly established scientific basis.

Ross Finnie: The legislative framework which underpins the release of GM crops at both European and UK level makes it very clear that approval can only be refused if there is scientific evidence that the GM crop poses a threat to human health or the environment.

  The concerns expressed by Highland Council and others related to the wider socio-economic and political arguments but did not raise any new scientific evidence which would have given grounds for the approval to be withheld. If, however, any such information becomes available subsequently, I will have no hesitation in reviewing the decision.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why it is waiting for a new European Directive before bringing forward revised legislation to take account of public opinion in relation to GM crop trials.

Ross Finnie: The present regulatory framework at both European and UK level is governed by the European Council Directive 90/220/EEC. Based on a scientific assessment of risk, the directive does not enable wider socio-economic arguments and public opinion to be considered as part of the overall decision-making process.

  I fully expect that the revised directive will be published in the Official Journal within the next few days. Thereafter, member states will have 18 months in which to implement the provisions into national legislation. The Scottish Executive will consult widely on the content of any new legislation. Until this is in place it would be illegal to act in contravention of existing European and UK law.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which farmland wildlife are being examined in order to collect information on any impact the new herbicide regimes associated with the GM crop trials in the Highlands and Aberdeenshire might have.

Ross Finnie: The ecological research, which is being undertaken by a consortium of independent scientists is designed to study the effect, if any, that the management practices associated with genetically modified herbicide tolerant crops might have on farmland wildlife when compared with those used with non-GM crops.

  The research involves a comparison of key indicators of biodiversity between the GM and non-GM cropping systems, including:

  Soil seed bank;

  Arable plant diversity, biomass and estimated seed return;

  Field margin and boundary vegetation, noting species in flower and signs of unintentional spray drift of weed-killer during its application to the field;

  Gastropods: abundance, activity and diversity measures;

  Arthropods on vegetation, concentrating on plant bugs, spring tails and the caterpillars of butterflies and moths, sawflies (related to wasps (Hymenoptera)); diversity and biomass measures;

  Ground (Carabid) beetles and other ground dwelling arthropods; abundance and diversity measures;

  Bees and butterflies; observational studies;

  Birds and mammals; observational studies.

  The scientific validity of this research programme is being overseen by a Scientific Steering Committee of independent experts in agriculture and ecology. The results of this research will be published at the end of the farm-scale evaluation programme.

Government Services

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will adopt the draft list of common services proposed by the European Commission in its communication to the European Council and the European Parliament, eEurope, Impact and Priorities .

Angus MacKay: It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Executive to formally adopt the proposed full draft list, as many of the services included relate to reserved matters. But we are considering how we might use the approach taken in the list to take forward the Executive’s own active promotion and monitoring of the electronic delivery of public services in Scotland.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications were received for the post of chair of NHS 24.

Susan Deacon: 18 applications were received for the post of chair of NHS 24.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications were received for the posts of non-executive board members of NHS 24.

Susan Deacon: 208 applications were received for the posts of non-executive board members of NHS 24.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when interviews for the posts of chair and non-executive board members of NHS 24 are expected to be completed.

Susan Deacon: Arrangements are currently being made to interview applicants for the post of chair. Once this is complete, interviews for non-executive board members will take place. It is hoped that the process can be completed during May.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12335 by Susan Deacon on 6 February 2001, whether it will provide details of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network in terms of its origin, staffing and remit and give a complete list of all research projects it has carried out since 1997 to date.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) was formed in 1993 by the Academy of Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland. SIGN develops and disseminates multidisciplinary, evidence-based clinical guidelines for the NHS in Scotland. The guidelines, which contain recommendations for effective practice based on current evidence, aim to improve the quality of health care for patients by reducing variation in practice and outcome. The guideline development programme is funded by the Clinical Resource and Audit Group (CRAG) of the Scottish Executive.

  Membership of SIGN includes all medical specialties, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, professions allied to medicine, patients, health service managers, social services, and researchers. The work of SIGN is supported by an Executive of 19 staff based at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

  SIGN has a programme of 60 evidence-based clinical guidelines - published, in development or under review - covering a wide range of topics. Its 50th guideline was published in February of this year. Many of the guidelines relate to the NHS priority areas.

  Full background information on SlGN and a list of published guidelines can be found at their website at www.sign.ac.uk.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to use human genome data to identify people who are susceptible to heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Malcolm Chisholm: Although the Human Genome Project will lead to the sequencing of the human gene complement, it will require a great deal of further research before the actual function, and hence health implication, of each of the genes identified is determined. Research projects of this nature are currently under consideration in Scotland and other parts of the UK. We are therefore not in a position yet to use this knowledge to identify people in the general population who are susceptible to heart disease, cancer and diabetes unless they have one of the already known genetic forms.

  Meanwhile, comprehensive clinical and molecular genetic services are available in Scotland to identify at-risk individuals within families with recognised genetic susceptibilities.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £26 million allocated to the Health Improvement Fund for 2000-01 each health board received.

Susan Deacon: Details are as follows:

  


Health Board 
  

£ million 
  



Argyll & Clyde 
  

1.636 
  



Ayrshire & Arran 
  

1.631 
  



Borders 
  

0.436 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

0.622 
  



Fife 
  

1.318 
  



Forth Valley 
  

0.973 
  



Grampian 
  

1.819 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

4.052 
  



Highland 
  

1.042 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

2.006 
  



Lothian 
  

2.871 
  



Orkney 
  

0.082 
  



Shetland 
  

0.096 
  



Tayside 
  

1.608 
  



Western Isles 
  

0.181 
  



Health Education Board for Scotland 
  

0.950 
  



Common Services Agency 
  

0.793 
  



Total 
  

22.116 
  



  The remainder of the £26 million has been used to meet the costs of centrally commissioned services, including the extra costs arising from the enhanced flu vaccination programme.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Health Technology Board for Scotland, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidance Network and the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland are made aware of the outcomes of clinical trials in Scotland.

Susan Deacon: As with any evidence-based organisation, the Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidance Network (SIGN) maintain a high level of awareness of clinical outcomes data. This is broadly derived from four sources: clinical scientific literature, scientific/professional meetings, national professional networks and personal contact.

  In developing standards, the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland (CSBS) draws heavily on the work of SIGN, HTBS and other equivalent organisations.

Hearing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to increase the recruitment of audiologists and hearing therapists.

Susan Deacon: The recruitment of audiologists and hearing therapists in NHSScotland is a matter for NHS Trusts and is subject to Trusts’ assessment of local needs and priorities.

Hearing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to improve audiology services, including hearing aid provisions.

Susan Deacon: Good practice guidance for adult hearing aid fitting and services, which distils the results of current research and practice in the field of audiology, was issued by the Scottish Executive Health Department to NHSScotland on 2 March. We now intend to conduct a review of audiology services in Scotland, and a working group has been established to consider the remit and scope of this review.

Homelessness

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it can learn from Camden Borough Council’s rough sleepers initiative.

Jackie Baillie: I understand that Camden Borough Council has a street population strategy, which aims to minimise the impact of street activity in the borough. This includes reducing rough sleeping by at least two thirds, but also aims to reduce begging, street drinking and street trading. Our approach to rough sleeping in Scotland is to find solutions by involving those who have experience and knowledge of the problems. We are not targeting particular groups, such as beggars - we are addressing the underlying reasons for their situation.

Hospitals

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards achieving the target of ending mixed sex hospital wards.

Susan Deacon: A review of progress towards the elimination of mixed sex wards by April 2002 is currently being conducted. Additional funding of £4.8 million has been allocated to the NHS in Scotland to assist them in achieving this objective.

Hospitals

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific data relating to hospital-acquired infections is held by the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health holds data about cases of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), including MRSA bacteraemias (blood borne infections), and of other bacteraemias detected in laboratory specimens examined in Scottish public health and hospital laboratories. Infections in these groups may have been acquired while the infected person was in hospital or may have been present on admission. It is not at present possible to distinguish and count separately those infections acquired in hospital.

  A sub-group of the Health Department’s Advisory Group on Infection has been developing plans for a national surveillance system for hospital-acquired infection (HAI), including MRSA, in Scotland. The group is expected to provide recommendations to the department shortly. The sub-group recognises the priority that needs to be attached to infections caused by MRSA. Once their report is received, I will be considering what further steps are needed to introduce surveillance of HAI across Scotland. On present plans, systematic collection throughout Scotland of information on selected infections attributable to MRSA would begin in autumn 2001. Monitoring data would become available approximately a year later.

Hospitals

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring takes place of hospital-acquired infections which occur after patients have been discharged from hospital.

Susan Deacon: There are currently no Scotland-wide arrangements in place for monitoring hospital acquired infection (HAI), including those which become apparent after patients have been discharged from hospital. A Scotland-wide surveillance system for HAI is under active consideration by a sub-group of the Advisory Group on Infection and I will shortly be considering the further steps necessary to introduce such a system.

  There are recognised difficulties in monitoring HAI which becomes apparent after discharge, and there is currently no UK or world-wide consensus on an appropriate approach. Experts from Scotland are taking part in UK-wide discussions about developing methods of post-discharge surveillance of HAIs. The sub-group which is considering HAI surveillance has identified the issue of post-discharge surveillance as a priority and studies to evaluate alternative methods are being developed.

Hospitals

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements there are for NHSiS Trusts to publish data on the occurrence of hospital-acquired infections.

Susan Deacon: At present there are no requirements on NHS Trusts to publish such data, although it is open to them to do so. A Scotland-wide surveillance system for hospital-acquired infection (HAI) is under active consideration by a sub-group of the Advisory Group on Infection and I will shortly be considering the further steps necessary to introduce such a system.

  The Scottish Executive Health Department is also currently considering the inclusion of a measure of the incidence of HAI in NHS hospitals in the new NHS performance assessment framework outlined in Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change.

Hospitals

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used to (a) define hospital-acquired infections (HAI), (b) distinguish between types of HAI and (c) decide which types of HAI to monitor, and what methods are used to monitor rates of HAI.

Susan Deacon: These matters are under consideration by a sub-group of the Advisory Group on Infection, which was asked by the Scottish Executive to develop proposals for a national system of surveillance for hospital-acquired infection (HAI) in Scotland. During the course of its work, the group has considered a wide range of issues including definitions of HAIs and approaches to monitoring their incidence. I will shortly be considering the further steps necessary to introduce a Scotland-wide surveillance system for HAIs.

Hospitals

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs have been incurred by health authorities due to clinical negligence claims arising from hospital-acquired infections.

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what data is held centrally on the number of compensation claims received by the NHSiS citing hospital-aquired infection as a main or contributory factor.

Susan Deacon: General hospital-acquired infection (HAI) would not have been noted as a contributory factor in clinical negligence claims prior to April 2000. However, records of clinical negligence claims where MRSA – which may have been acquired in hospital – was stated as a contributory factor are available prior to April 2000.

  No clinical negligence payments have been recorded in respect of incidents in which MRSA is mentioned as a contributory factor. At present there are seven MRSA-related clinical negligence claims under consideration. No claims specifying HAI as a contributory factor have been lodged since April 2000.

Hospitals

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any correlation between rates of hospital-acquired infection and the level of resources invested in infection control and, if so, what data exists to support this.

Susan Deacon: There is insufficient data at Scottish level to demonstrate either correlation or lack of correlation between rates of hospital-acquired infection (HAI) and resources applied to infection control by NHS Trusts.

  Preventing and controlling HAI is an important issue for the NHS in Scotland and is a key part of the responsibilities of every NHS Trust. The Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, published in December last year, makes clear that every local health care system will be expected to deliver the service standards to be established by the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland on infection control, cleanliness, and other matters. A joint Health Department/ NHS working group is currently reviewing existing guidance and preparing relevant standards. These standards will be applied to NHS Trusts once the work is complete.

Hospitals

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what figures are available on the number of patients contracting infections while in hospital and the number dying as a result of such infections.

Susan Deacon: A broad estimate of the incidence and impact of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) in Scotland, prepared by the Health Department in 1999, suggested that there might be approximately 69,000 cases annually in Scottish hospitals.

  Information about deaths resulting from HAI is not available, as HAI is not a notifiable cause of death.

  More information about the incidence of HAI is expected to become available from the planned national surveillance system, once it is introduced.

Hospitals

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it provides hospital Trusts with a model specification for hospital cleaning contracts and whether it monitors standards of hospital cleaning in any way.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive does not provide model cleaning contract specifications to NHS Trusts. Responsibility for ensuring adequate cleaning in NHS hospitals in Scotland lies with the management of NHS Trusts.

  Audit Scotland published its report on hospital cleaning entitled A Clean Bill of Health? in April 2000. The report made a number of recommendations for action by NHS Trusts. The Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, published in December last year, makes clear that the Scottish Executive expects every NHS Trust to act on the recommendations of the Audit Scotland report by June 2001.

  A joint Scottish Executive Health Department/NHS working group is currently preparing standards on hospital cleanliness and other matters for use throughout NHSScotland.

Hospitals

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current occupancy rate is for beds in psychiatric wards in the NHSiS.

Susan Deacon: The bed occupancy rate for psychiatric specialties in Scotland was 84.2% for the year ending 31 December 2000.

Local Government

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to encourage local authorities to emulate West Lothian Council’s multi-agency, one stop shop where visitors can deal with all main services at one location.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive encourages all local authorities to consider innovative forms of service delivery such as the development of "one-stop-shops".

  It has provided practical encouragement to this kind of innovation through the Modernising Government Fund (MGF). This has awarded £2 million towards the "Wired West Lothian" project, which is one of a series of MGF supported initiatives that promote inter-agency working and the use information and communications technology (ICT) to provide more joined up services to the public.

  MGF projects are scheduled to run until March 2002. All of the projects will be monitored, with regular updates and results published on the Scottish Executive’s 21st Century Government website. This way all local authorities will benefit from the good practice that results from the projects.

  The Executive has also established the Central Local 21st Century Government Forum, which includes representatives of West Lothian Council. This has been set up to endorse and promote new models of service delivery across local authorities.

  In addition, the Executive has also agreed to consider whether there are unnecessary barriers to the development of service solutions such as one-stop shops within constraints on local authority trading and, if so, how best to deal with them.

Local Government

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to analyse the best practice of the customer services team of Northamptonshire County Council to ensure that such best practice is transferred to Scottish local authorities.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it can learn from Portsmouth City Council’s Best Value approach.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive maintains a strong interest in the development of new approaches to local service delivery, and expects Scottish local authorities to do the same. It is important for local authorities to consider all options for securing local services, on the grounds that what matters is what works.

Medical Records

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop smart cards or a database containing patients’ genetic information to enable electronic prescribing of treatment.

Susan Deacon: Genetic (DNA) typing has the potential to allow drug treatments to be more accurately tailored to individual patients and help identify those patients most likely to respond to treatment or those most at risk of side effects. Although it is already in use for some cancer treatments, the technique is still very much a research tool and there are no current plans for the development of supporting systems in the form of smart cards or databases containing genetic information to enable electronic prescribing of treatment.

Ministerial Code

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the guidelines relating to the working relationships between ministers and civil servants are the same in Scotland as in the rest of the UK.

Henry McLeish: Yes.

Ministerial Code

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its principles of good practice for ministers with regard to the requirement for civil servants to be impartial and non-party political are to be changed.

Henry McLeish: No.

Ministerial Code

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review or change the Scottish Ministerial Code.

Henry McLeish: I have no plans at present to amend the Scottish Ministerial Code.

Ministerial Correspondence

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and the Deputy Minister for Sport and Culture will reply to my letters of 21 July 2000 regarding my constituent Dr Mike Langran.

Allan Wilson: Dr Langran received a response to his own approaches to the Executive direct from officials on 9 March. A copy of this response has been sent to you.

NHS Equipment

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what is happening to any MRI scanners it has purchased which are not being used by NHS Trusts due to insufficient resources.

Susan Deacon: There are no MRI scanners in that position in Scotland. Every MRI scanner purchased by NHSScotland is being used to benefit patient care.

NHS Expenditure

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the value was, in both monetary terms and in terms of number of treatment episodes, of contracts for private clinical care purchased by Forth Valley Health Board or NHS Trusts in its area in each year from 1995-96 to 1999-2000.

Susan Deacon: This is a matter for Forth Valley Health Board. The information requested is not held centrally.

NHS Expenditure

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the value was, in both monetary terms and in terms of number of treatment episodes, of contracts for private medical care purchased by Fife Health Board or NHS Trusts in its area in each year from 1995-96 to 1999-2000.

Susan Deacon: This is a matter for Fife Health Board. The information requested is not held centrally.

NHS Expenditure

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the value was, in both monetary terms and in terms of number of treatment episodes, of contracts for private medical care purchased by Tayside Health Board or NHS Trusts in its area in each year from 1995-96 to 1999-2000.

Susan Deacon: This is a matter for Tayside Health Board. The information requested is not held centrally.

NHS Services

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to set up mobile dialysis units in the Highlands and Islands.

Susan Deacon: This is a matter for the health boards and NHS Trusts which serve the Highlands and Islands.

NHS Waiting Times

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the first half year statistics of NHSiS waiting times and lists for 2000-01.

Susan Deacon: An extensive range of information on NHSScotland acute activity, waiting lists and waiting times for the year 2000 was published on 28 February 2001 and is available on the internet at:

  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/acute_activity/index.htm

Pensions

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the abolition of advance corporation tax credits has had on the provision for pensions made by fire brigades since July 1997.

Angus MacKay: Pension benefits for firefighters are met on a pay-as-you-go basis, and not from a pension fund that could have been affected by the abolition of advance corporation tax credits.

Poverty

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what data it uses to analyse (a) urban and (b) rural deprivation.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Executive is committed to tackling poverty and deprivation wherever it exists across urban and rural Scotland. A range of data is used to assess deprivation, such as proportions of income support recipients, employment data, the deprivation index and indicators in the Social Inclusion Partnership monitoring framework. Our recent annual report on social justice sets out the indicators being used to track progress towards the milestones for delivering social justice in Scotland.

  The current Scottish Deprivation Index, revised in 1998, ranks postcode sectors by combining 1991 Census indicators with more recent non-Census indicators of deprivation. We intend to further revise this index as part of our Neighbourhood Statistics initiative and update it as data becomes available from Census 2001.

  In addition, for rural deprivation, part of the remit of the Rural Poverty and Inclusion Working Group is to ensure that existing indicators are appropriately developed for, and measurable in, rural areas. The group will make recommendations on general data availability for rural areas, including ways of improving monitoring of progress against the social justice milestones for rural areas. We expect the group’s report soon.

Public Transport

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to encourage an extension of Moray Council’s Fair Travel Scheme to other local authorities.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive welcomes discounted fare initiatives such as the Fair Travel Scheme in Moray, which is a joint initiative between Stagecoach Bluebird and Moray Council. It is a matter for individual local authorities and public transport operators to consider whether similar schemes might be set up elsewhere in Scotland.

Rail Freight

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty’s Government regarding any impact on Scottish based exporters of cross-channel rail freight operators being fined £2,000 for each clandestine entrant to the UK on their services.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom Government on a wide range of issues, including cross-channel rail freight services.

Regulatory Bodies

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many UK regulatory bodies have offices dispersed to Scotland, what these bodies are and how many staff are employed in their offices.

Angus MacKay: The Scottish Executive has no general function in relation to the location of UK regulatory bodies in Scotland or the number of staff employed within their offices. The Executive does not hold records regarding the location of regulatory bodies sponsored by UK Government Departments.

  One exception is in the case of the Food Standards Agency in Scotland (employing 57 staff in Aberdeen). Food safety and standards are devolved matters and legislation for Scotland is determined by the Scottish Parliament.

Renewable Energy

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its targets are for the introduction of (a) solar heating and (b) solar electricity generation (photovoltaics).

Rhona Brankin: Whilst the Executive is committed to increasing the proportion of electricity in Scotland accounted for by renewable energy, it is not our policy to set specific targets for any individual technology.

  As part of its research and development programme, the Department of Trade and Industry recently announced a major initiative aimed at expanding the use of solar photovoltaics across the UK. £10 million has been committed for the first three years of this programme, and we will remain in close contact with DTI colleagues as the details are developed.

Residential Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the Nursing Homes Scotland Core Standards (Nutritional Care) NHS MEL (1999) 54 will be applied to local authority and private residential homes as recommended by the Clinical Resources Audit Group.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Regulation of Care Bill currently going through the Scottish Parliament will end the distinction between residential care homes and nursing homes. From April 2002 all care homes will be registered and inspected by an independent body, the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care.

  The National Care Standards Committee (NCSC) is currently drawing up the standards against which the commission will register and inspect care homes. In drawing together these standards, the NCSC is taking account of existing legislation and guidance including the Nursing Homes Scotland Core Standards on Nutrition. The NCSC will also take into account the recommendations of the CRAG Report.

Residential Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that patients and their representatives are given accurate information on cost and choice before referral and placement in residential care.

Malcolm Chisholm: The primary responsibility rests with local authority social work functions. We have provided guidance to authorities and issued copies of the booklet Thinking about moving into a Care Home?  to assist.

Residential Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how local authorities will finance any necessary upgrading of their residential homes in order to comply with the terms of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Bill.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is not yet clear what cost implications might arise for residential homes from the implementation of the National Care Standards. However, before making any final decisions on the standards, the Scottish Executive is committed to consulting on the possible cost implications for service providers.

  It is proposed to carry out the cost consultation in two stages. Stage 1 will begin just after Easter and will focus on residential care services and, in particular, costs associated with recommendations on staffing ratios, room sizes and en-suite facilities. Stage 2 of the cost consultation will begin in late summer and will consider the costs associated with implementation of the full set of care standards.

  The Executive has also allocated £1.26 billion to local authorities for social work this year. This represents a 10% increase on last year. It is for local authorities to decide how best to spend these monies in the light of local priorities.

Roads

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8804 by Sarah Boyack on 25 August 2000, whether the work on the viability of the proposed Public/Private Partnership (PPP) in respect of the M77 Fenwick to Malletsheugh scheme has been completed; if so, whether tender documents for this PPP are expected to be issued and, if so, when.

Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to my answer to his question S1W-12506.

  A preliminary analysis has been completed of the proposed Public/Private Partnership (PPP) for the joint procurement of the M77 Fenwick to Malletsheugh and the Glasgow Southern Orbital. That analysis showed that the proposed PPP would be likely to be a cost-effective method of procurement, and has permitted draft tender documents to be progressed.

  A more refined analysis of the viability of the PPP will be completed before tender documents are issued, and a further check on the viability will be undertaken once tenders have been returned.

  If the PPP remains viable, tenders will be issued later this summer and a contract awarded towards the end of next year. This is the same timescale as I announced following the Strategic Roads Review.

Roads

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to engage local authorities on work relating to the trunk road schemes announced by the Minister for Transport and the Environment on 27 March 2001 and, if so, what work will be allocated in each local authority area.

Sarah Boyack: Where local authorities are currently engaged on trunk road minor improvement schemes outwith the new term maintenance contracts they will continue to work on these schemes for the time being. A review is currently under way to determine which schemes will remain with local authorities, which will be passed to the new operating companies and which new schemes could be allocated to local authorities. The outcome of the review is unlikely to be known until later this year.

Scottish Executive Publications

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the full costs involved in publishing, launching and distributing A Framework for Maternity Services in Scotland .

Susan Deacon: The full cost of the publishing and distribution of the Framework for Maternity Services in Scotland is £126,015. This includes the distribution of relevant information to professionals including GPs, midwives and health visitors and to pregnant women themselves through, for example, GP surgeries and ante-natal clinics. Effective communication and dissemination of the framework is essential to foster effective implementation.

Scottish Executive Publications

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total costs were of the publication, including the design, photocopying, printing, internet connection of text, distribution and cost of launch, of The Scottish Budget .

Angus MacKay: The costs of publishing The Scottish Budget: Annual Expenditure Report of the Scottish Executive detail document are set out below:

  

 

£ 
  



Design 
  

8,159 
  



Printing 
  

2,959 
  



Internet connection of text 
  

1,355 
  



  Costs for photocopying and distribution were met within normal Scottish Executive running costs. There were no launch costs.

  This document is required by Parliament under the written agreement on the budget process. Its format and content are in line with the recommendations of the Finance Committee’s 11th report, 2000.

Scottish Opera

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14238 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 16 March 2001, from which departmental budgets the additional funding for Scottish Opera in the period from 2000-01 to 2003-04 came.

Allan Wilson: Additional funding for Scottish Opera in 2000-01 has been met from underspends within the Executive’s budget. Funding for the period 2001-02 to 2003-04 will be met from additional resources allocated to the Scottish Arts Council as a result of Spending Review 2000.

Smoking

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why the approved code of practice on smoking in the workplace, outlined in Smoking Kills: A White Paper on Tobacco , has not yet been introduced, given that the Health and Safety Commission endorsed the code in September 2000.

Malcolm Chisholm: Health and Safety at Work legislation is a reserved matter.

Smoking

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a commitment to the long-term, sustained funding of the national tobacco control strategy once the three-year funding announced in conjunction with the publication of Smoking Kills ends.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is committed to tackling smoking and will make funding available for this purpose to the end of the current Spending Review period i.e. 2003-04. Funding beyond that date will be considered as part of the next Spending Review.

Teacher Training

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide development funding for teacher training at Sabhal Mor Ostaig.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The provision of teacher training is a matter for the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and the Scottish higher education institutions it funds. Any arrangements for delivery via colleges is a matter for individual higher education institutions and those colleges.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many visitors from (a) Norway and (b) Scandinavia visited Scotland and how many of these came via ferry to Newcastle, in each year since 1995.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The numbers of tourists from Norway and Scandinavia is noted in the table below. Data on entry by specific ferry port is not available.

  

 

1995 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  



Norway 
  

24,000 
  

23,000 
  

29,000 
  

40,000 
  

35,000 
  



Scandinavia 
  

85,000 
  

111,000 
  

135,000 
  

204,000 
  

120,000 
  



  Source: IPS.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by the Scottish Tourist Board and visitscotland in promoting cruise ship visits to Scotland, in each year since 1995.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by the Scottish Tourist Board and visitscotland in promoting direct air routes into Scotland on low cost or other carriers and what routes were involved, in each year since 1995.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff were employed by the Scottish Tourist Board and visitscotland in (a) the USA, (b) Canada, (c) Germany, (d) Italy, (e) France, (f) the Netherlands and (g) Belgium, in each year since 1995.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by the Scottish Tourist Board and visitscotland in marketing Scotland in (a) the USA, (b) Canada, (c) Germany, (d) Italy, (e) France, (f) the Netherlands and (g) Belgium, in each year since 1995.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for visitscotland.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many visitors to Scotland were from (a) the USA, (b) Canada, (c) Germany, (d) Italy, (e) France, (f) the Netherlands and (g) Belgium, in each year since 1995.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The information is as follows:

  Number of Tourists to Scotland (000) 1995-99

  





1995 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  



USA 
  

406 
  

406 
  

429 
  

470 
  

451 
  



Canada 
  

124 
  

133 
  

143 
  

136 
  

119 
  



Germany 
  

237 
  

237 
  

239 
  

211 
  

196 
  



Italy 
  

79 
  

92 
  

73 
  

75 
  

105 
  



France 
  

155 
  

150 
  

149 
  

133 
  

132 
  



Netherlands 
  

60 
  

76 
  

108 
  

107 
  

78 
  



Belgium 
  

46 
  

65 
  

46 
  

55 
  

45 
  



  Source: IPS.

Vaccines

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) measles, mumps and rubella, (b) mumps and rubella, (c) single antigen measles, (d) single antigen rubella and (e) single antigen mumps vaccines were administered in each health board area in each year since 1979.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information is not available in entirety in the form requested. What is available is set out in the following tables. Neither a mumps and rubella combined vaccination nor single antigen mumps vaccine has been offered by the NHS in Scotland. In response to a measles outbreak in Scotland, there was a schools-based campaign providing measles and rubella combined vaccination in 1994-95 and it was estimated that 90.4% of the target population were vaccinated at that time.

  No information has been collected centrally on single vaccinations that may have been provided by general practitioners privately, using imported vaccines.

  Information is available by health board only in regard to MMR from 1995.

  Table 1 (Numbers of children receiving MMR by 24 months of age in Scotland from 1989 to 2000 and by health board from 1995 to 2000):

  





1989 
  

1990 
  

1991 
  

1992 
  

1993 
  

1994 
  



Scotland 
  

191,027 
  

116,206 
  

80,073 
  

67,185 
  

68,868 
  

59,222 
  



  

 

1995 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  



Scotland 
  

58,612 
  

55,634 
  

55,781 
  

54,813 
  

54,100 
  

53,620 
  



Health Board 
  

1995 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  



Argyll & Clyde 
  

4,932 
  

4,581 
  

4,762 
  

4,652 
  

4,498 
  

4,502 
  



Ayrshire & Arran 
  

4,225 
  

3,902 
  

3,683 
  

3,851 
  

3,803 
  

3,760 
  



Borders 
  

1,030 
  

1,094 
  

1,084 
  

1,093 
  

1,026 
  

1,030 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

1,618 
  

1,566 
  

1,554 
  

1,536 
  

1,483 
  

1,515 
  



Fife 
  

4,020 
  

3,677 
  

3,775 
  

3,615 
  

3,599 
  

3,592 
  



Forth Valley 
  

3,184 
  

3,040 
  

3,113 
  

2,927 
  

3,050 
  

3,049 
  



Grampian 
  

6,167 
  

6,208 
  

6,075 
  

5,688 
  

5,587 
  

5,630 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

10,529 
  

9,818 
  

9,818 
  

9,792 
  

9,474 
  

9,356 
  



Highland 
  

2,276 
  

2,191 
  

2,191 
  

2,172 
  

2,064 
  

2,131 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

6,691 
  

6,383 
  

6,448 
  

6,287 
  

6,288 
  

6,193 
  



Lothian 
  

8,744 
  

8,414 
  

8,461 
  

8,387 
  

8,429 
  

8,186 
  



Orkney 
  

242 
  

229 
  

231 
  

219 
  

215 
  

203 
  



Shetland 
  

293 
  

309 
  

298 
  

272 
  

256 
  

254 
  



Tayside 
  

4,396 
  

3,938 
  

4,012 
  

4,030 
  

4,074 
  

3,991 
  



Western Isles 
  

265 
  

284 
  

276 
  

292 
  

254 
  

228 
  



  Table 2 (Numbers of children receiving measles vaccine from 1979 to 1988 in Scotland)

  





1979 
  

1980 
  

1981 
  

1982 
  

1983 
  

1984 
  

1985 
  

1986 
  

1987 
  

1988 
  



Scotland 
  

36,718 
  

39,560 
  

41,429 
  

43,610 
  

45,370 
  

55,934 
  

53,727 
  

53,757 
  

61,312 
  

77,725 
  



  Table 3 (Numbers of girls receiving rubella vaccine through the schools programme in Scotland from 1979 to 1994)

  





1979 
  

1980 
  

1981 
  

1982 
  

1983 
  

1984 
  

1985 
  

1986 
  



Scotland 
  

42,548 
  

37,301 
  

35,930 
  

34,974 
  

35,040 
  

35,523 
  

32,142 
  

29,071 
  



  





1987 
  

1988 
  

1989 
  

1990 
  

1991 
  

1992 
  

1993 
  

1994 
  



Scotland 
  

27,404 
  

25,575 
  

24,292 
  

20,750 
  

20,883 
  

20,731 
  

21,289 
  

18,626

Voluntary Sector

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage health boards to increase their funding to local voluntary organisations.

Susan Deacon: Local voluntary organisations make an important contribution to health improvement and health care services across Scotland. Health boards are best placed to judge, in consultation with local voluntary organisations and other partners, how to use their discretionary powers to provide financial assistance to the voluntary sector. The Scottish Executive would not expect to be involved in these decisions. Overall, health board allocations have increased by an average of 6.5% from 2000-01 to 2001-02.

Water Authorities

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will write off the debts of the three existing regional water authorities in the event that they are replaced by a single water authority for Scotland.

Ross Finnie: No.

Water Authorities

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each of the three regional water authorities spends annually on the servicing of debts (a) in cash terms, (b) as a percentage of income and (c) as a percentage of their operating budgets.

Ross Finnie: The figures requested may be calculated from those given in each of the water authorities’ published accounts, copies of which are held by the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Water Authorities

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates the proposed single water authority would spend annually on the servicing of debts (a) in cash terms, (b) as a percentage of its income and (c) as a percentage of its operating budget in the event that all outstanding debts of the three existing regional water authorities were transferred to it.

Ross Finnie: It is not appropriate to make an estimate at this stage as neither the investment programme nor the proposed charge increases for the years beyond 2001-02 have been agreed.

Water Authorities

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost will be of merging the three existing regional water authorities to form a single water authority for Scotland.

Ross Finnie: The proposed merger of the three existing water authorities is dependent on the successful passage of the Water Services Bill through Parliament, during which information of this nature will be presented. If the merger is accepted, there will be some transition costs, the exact level of which will be dependent upon decisions which have yet to be made. These are likely to be insignificant in comparison to the reduction in operating and capital costs generated by the rationalisation of the industry.

Water Authorities

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much income it estimates the proposed single water authority would lose annually if the existing discrepancy in the charge levels between the current North of Scotland Water Authority area and the remaining two water authority areas were removed by bringing charge levels in the north into line with those in other areas.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has no estimate for this scenario. The proposals to create a single water authority have as one of their objectives facilitating the optimum efficiency savings for the benefit of all consumers.